Machine for assembling shoe parts



I July 14, 1942. K. ENGEL 2,289,415

' MACHINE FOR'ASSEMBLING SHOE PARTS Filed Aug. 15. 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 July 14, 1942. K. ENGEL MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE PARTS Filed Aug, 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ju1 14, 1942. KQ IQ EL 2,289,415

MACHINE ron ASSEMBLING snon rams Fi led Aug. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented July 14, 1942 MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLIN G SHOE PARTS Karl Engel, Swampscott, Mass., Shoe Machinery Corporation,

assignor to United Flemington, N. J

a corporation of New Jersey Application August 15 In Great Brit This invention relates to a machine for assembling shoe parts. For purposesof illustration, the invention is exemplified in a machine for assembling the uppers and sole members of shoes of the kind disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 333,450, filed May 6, 1940.

In accordance with that method of making shoes, a sole member is provided with a shouldered recess which extends entirely about its periphery, and the bottom margin of the upper is placed in this recess with its edge face butted against the shoulder. The parts are secured to one another in this relation by zigzag stitches. Inasmuch as this assembling operation is carried out off the last, the parts must be located relatively to one another with considerable accuracy so that the finished shoe will be of the proper size. The present invention therefore has as its object the effecting of the operation of bringing the parts together in accurate registration in such a manner as to require a minimum of effort and skill on the part of the operator.

For the accomplishment of this and other objects, the invention provides an improved method of assembling these parts wherein an inwardly directed flange is formed on the bottom margin of the upper at least at the toe end. This flange is preferably formed by wiping the bottom margin of the upper inwardly over a form block upon which the upper is placed in a predetermined position. After the application of cement to one or both of the parts, the peripherally recessed sole member is superimposed upon the inwardly extending flange of the upper with the flange lying in the recess, and the twoparts are pressed together to cause them to adhere to one another. The invention also provides a machine to aid in practicing this method. This machine comprises a form block, means for wiping the bottom margin of an upper over the block to form an inwardly extending flange on the upper, and means for applying pressure to a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the upper.

The invention will be better understood when considered with relation to the accompanying drawings, in which I Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows in perspective a shoe upper with which the machine is adapted to be used;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the machine of Fig. 1 in an intermediate stage of its cycle of operation;

Fig. 4 is a view of the sole member with which the upper of Fig. 2 is to be united;

, 1940, Serial No. 352,678

ain June 11, 1940 13 Claims.

This upper is cut to exact size with no surplus lasting allowance on the bottom margin. At this stage in the operations, it is open at the top from the heel to the toe, the plug not having been sewed in as yet. At the toe end in the bottom margin there is provided a number of notches ID, the center notch preferably being at the exact center of the toe end so that it may be used in' locating the upper and the sole properly with relation to one another. The sole member S (Fig. 4) is of rather light material and, as disclosed in the above-referred-to copending application, may be made of two layers. In any case, it is provided about its entire periphery with a shouldered recess l2 which may be about one quarter of an inch in width and in depth equal to the thickness ofthe upper leather. A mark I4 is provided at the toe end of this sole member so that it may be alined with the notches of the upper. In assembling these parts, a coat of cement is applied to one or both of them and then an inwardly turned flange is formed in the bottom margin of the upper at the toe end. This flange need extend only a short distance either side of the center notch in the bottom margin of the upper. Preferably the flange will be substantially wider than the width of the recess [2.

1 This flange may advantageously be formed by a wiper 16 (Fig. 1) which moves across the surface of a form block [8 and turns the margin of the upper inwardly. The parts are now ready to be brought together in proper relation. To this end, the sole islaid over the flange of the upper at the toe end with the edge of the flange butted against the shoulder 20 of the recess and with the center notch in line with the mark I4 on the sole. After being properly positioned pressure is applied to the two parts to cause them tobe tacked together by the previously applied cement, The shoe is then ready for the zigzag stitching operation described in my earlier application above referred to. By reference to that application, it will be seen that when the outsole stitches are formed to attach the outsole, they will be closely adjacent to the crease formed in the upper to define the flange. This crease thus facilitates shaping of the upper and prevents it from bulging laterally.

In order to assist in performing the method above described, I have provided a simple and efiicient machine. Referring now to Fig. 1, this machine is provided with a base 22 in the shape of a rectangular block and adapted to be mounted either on a bench or on a pedestal, trays 24 being provided at each side of the base to hold shoes which are to be operated upon. At its forward end, the base is recessed to receive the form block l8, already referred to, this form block being secured to the base by bolts (not shown) which extend downwardly through a slot 26 in the base. The block may thus be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly or may be removed if it is desired to substitute a block of different size. The upper edge 28 of the block has a contour substantially like the toe end of a shoe and, for reasons later to be pointed out, the top surface 30 of the block is slightly concave. In order to assist in the proper positioning of the upper relatively to the form l8, registration marks 32 are made along the center lineof the block land the base 22. Location of the bottom margin of the upper heightwise is efiected with the assistance of a gage finger 34- which islocated directly above the registration marks 32' and which may also be used to position the upper and sole member laterally. This finger is supported on an arm 36 secured to the baseand may be moved upwardly or downwardly to vary its heightwise position slightly when the screw 38'by which it is secured to the arm 36 is loosened.

In order to form the flange on the bottom margin of the upper, there is provided the wiper it which isarranged for sliding movement over the top of the block IS in ways formed by the top of the base- 22 and angle irons 40 secured to the sides of the base by screws 42. It may be noted here that the heightwise clearance between the wiper IB and the upper edge 28 of the formblock is preferably about one half the thickness of the leather to be operated upon. This clearance may of course be adjusted by placing shims under the form block ifunusually thin leather is being employed. At its forward edge, the wiper I6 is provided with a U-shaped recess somewhat narrower than the width of the form block 8. The block and the wiper are so designed that as the wiper moves forward, it first engages the upper at the sides of the form and then; as it continues its forward movement, the wiping action'moves progressively closer to the toe end of the upper until'finally the base of the Ushaped recess crosses the edge of the form block, thus completing'the wiping action. This manner of operation brings most of the puckers in the leather to the very toe end of the upper where there are notches to compensate for them. As has been pointed out, the upper surface 30 of the form block is concave so that while the wiper will press hard against the leather at the very edge 28 of the form block and thus form a we'll-defined crease in the leather at that point, it will not press so tightly on the leather inwardly of the edge of the block but will tend slightly to overmold the flange.

In order to impart movement to the wiper It, this latter member is provided with upstanding lugs M. Theselugs are bored to receive a rod 43 which extends outwardly beyond the angle irons 40, the projecting ends of the rod being connected respectively to the forward links 48 of toggles Ellpositioned at each side of the base, these links being held in position on the rod between retaining collars 52 secured to the rod by set screws 54. The other links 56 of the toggles are pivoted in a similar manner on a rod 58 mounted at the rear of the base. Movement of the toggles is effected by two treadle rods 60 connected to the knees 62 of the two toggles. These treadle rods 69 extend downwardly to a crossbar 64 (Fig. 6) connected to a treadle 66 by intermediate linkage 58. It may be noted here that the pivotal points of the toggles, that is, the rods 48 and 58 are sufiiciently above the level of the trays through which the threadle rods pass so that depression of the treadle will first straighten the toggles and then as the toggles move past their most extended position to the position shown in Fig. 5, the wiper will be retracted slightly.

The flange in the upper having been formed by the wiper IE, it is necessary to apply pressure to the sole member superimposed on the flange of the upper. To this end, there is provided the presser member 10. The lower face 12 of this presser member is slightly convex, at least as its edges '54, so that it is substantially complemental to the upper face of the block 18. The presser member is slightly smaller than the U-shaped opening in the wiper so that it may operate in the area inwardly of the edge of the wiper plate. To enable the presser member 10 to be moved downwardly into pressure applying position, it is secured by screws 16 to an arm 18 which extends rearwardly and is mounted in a slot 8%] in the end of a vertically slidable rod 82. Forward and backward adjustment of the presser member 10 into proper position relative to the form I8 is permitted by a slot 84 in the arm 18 through which a screw 86' extends to hold the armin the slot. The arm is thus held rigidly in position in the rod 82 by the combined action of the bolt 85, a set screw 88, and the bearing of the lower side of the arm against the base of the slot 80. Confinement of the rearwardly extendingportion 99 of the arm between guides 92 upstanding on the base effectively prevents any rotational movement of the arm 18 and the rod 82. Below the base 22, the rod is connected by intermediate linkage 94 to the treadle 65 on the side of the linkage 68 away from the fulcrum. The wiper l6 and the presser member 10 will thus operate in timed relation to one another, the linkages 68 and 94 preferably being adjusted so that the presser member strikes the sole when the toggles have passed their most extended position and have retracted the wiper slightly.

In operating the machine, the upper U is placed over the form block with its bottom side up and with the center notch H) in alinement with the registration marks 32 and the gage finger 34. The heightwise position of the upper wil also be determined by the finger 34; For most purposes it has been found that a margin of about five eighths of an inch above the form is satisfactory. The upper is then pulled tight rearwardly and the treadle is depressed to cause the wiper IE to move forwardly. As it moves in this fashion, the wiper forms the inwardly directed flange defined by the crease created by the wiper and the upper edge of the form block. The wiper continues its. forward movement until the toggles are in their most extended position (Fig. 3), when downward movement of the treadle is stopped. At this point, the sole is located in relation to the upper, approximately one quarter of an inch of the flange being left exposed and not covered by the wiper it. This portion of the flange is sufiicient, however, so that the feather 96 of the sole at the toe end will just cover the exposed portionof the flange when the edge of the flange is buttedagainst the shoulder 20 of the recess I2. The treadle is then depressed further to cause the presser member 10 to come down and clamp the sole and the flange so that they will be tacked together by the cement which has previously been applied to one or both of the parts, at the same time, the wiper retracting to the position shown in Fig. 5. After the cement has dried sufiiciently to form a good bond, the treadle is released. It may be noted here that upon release of the treadle, the wiper again moves forwardly over the upper face 30 of the form block, but this does not disturb the sole member S inasmuch as the latter was positioned on the upper at a time when the wiper was in its forward-most position.

When the machine is employed to operate on shoes of different sizes, the form block I8 and the presser member 10 may of course be changed as necessary. However, inasmuch as the temporary tacking with the assistance of the machine will be done only at the very toe end of the shoe, preferably for not more than an inch on each side of the center of the toe, a single block and presser member will be found sufficient for almost all except the most extreme sizes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat.

ent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form, a wiper for forming aflange in the bottom margin of an upper positioned on said form, a member for applying pressure against a sole member superimposed on the flange formed by said wiper, and means for operating said wiper and said member in timed relation to one another successively to form the flange'and apply pressure to the sole member.

2. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form, a wiper movable over the top surface of said form to flange the 'bottom margin of an upper positioned on said form, a member movable toward said form to apply pressure against a sole member superimposed on the flange formed in said upper, and operating means constructed and arranged to advance said wiper to form the flange and subsequently to retract the wiper and to move said plying position.

3. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form, means for wiping the periphery of the bottom margin of an upper inwardly over said form, and associated means for thereafter applying pressure against a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the upper.

4. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form block over which the end of a moccasin-type upper having a top opening extending substantially its entire length may be placed with its bottom margin extending upwardly above the top surface of the form block, wiper means, means for moving said wiper means over the top surface of the form block thereby to form an inwardly turned flange on the margin of the upper, and associated means for applying pressure on a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the moccasin.

5. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form, means for locating relative to said form one end of a shoe upper having top and bottom openings extending substantially its entire length, means for bending the bottom margin of member to pressure apthe upper inwardly over the form, and associated means for applying pressure against a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the upper.

6. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form block over which one end of an upper may be placed with its bottom margin extending upwardly above the top surface of the form block, wiper means, means constructed and arranged to advance said wiper means over the top of the form block and subsequently to retract said wiper means slightly, and means operative upon the retraction of said wiper means for applying pressure against a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the upper.

7. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form block over which one end of an upper may be placed with its bottom margin extending upwardly above the top surface of the form block, a wiper, a toggle constructed and arranged to advance and retract said wiper means, and means for applying pressure against a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of said upper.

8. In a machine for assembling unlasted shoe parts, a form block, means for wiping the periphery of a shoe upper inwardly over said form block, a pressure applying member, and means for thereafter moving said pressure applying member toward said form block thereby adhesively to secure a sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the upper to said margin by pressing the sole member and the margin between said pressing member and said form block.

9. That improvement in methods of making moccasin-type shoes oif-the-last which comwardly to form a flange, and

prises forming an inwardly turned flange on the bottom margin of the toe end of an upper, positioning a sole member having a peripheral portion of reduced thickness with said peripheral portion in engagement with the inwardly turned flange, and applying pressure to said engaging portions thereby adhesively to secure the two parts together.

10. That improvement in methods of making moccasin-type shoes off-the-last which comprises flanging the toe end of the bottom margin of an upper inwardly over a form .block, positioning a sole member having a reduced peripheral portion with said reduced portion overlying the flange of the upper, and applying pressure against said sole member to cause it and the upper to be adhesively secured together by a previously applied coat of cement.

11. That improvement in methods of making moccasin-type shoes off-the-last which comprises providing an upper having top and bottom openings extending substantially the entire length of the upper, positioning said upper on a form block with its bottom margin projecting upwardly beyond the top surface of the form, wiping said upwardly extending margins inadhesively securing to said flange the reduced peripheral portion of a sole member.

12. That improvement in methods of making moccasin-type shoes oif-the-last which comprises positioning an upper having top and bottom openings extending substantially its entire length on a shaping form with reference to a predetermined point on said form, bending the bottom margin of the toe end of said upper inwardly over said form to obtain a flange, providmg a sole member having a shouldered recess about its periphery, and securing said sole memher andusaidupper together with :the flange lying in the recess of thesolemember.

13.. That improvement in methods of making moccasin-type shoes off-the-last which, comprises locatingatshoe upper having top and bottom openings extending substantially its entire length relative to a form, bending the bottom margin of the upper inwardly over the .form and applying pressure against a. sole member superimposed on the inwiped margin of the upper, thereby adhesively to secure the two parts to- 5 gether 

